NYSE chief stays mum on LSE merger speculation

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – New York Stock Exchange
Chief Executive John Thain declined to comment on Saturday on
speculation he was interested in a merger with the London Stock
Exchange.

“I’m not discussing that with anyone,” Thain told Reuters
at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Talk of a possible tie-up between the two exchanges emerged
after Thain said on Friday that the NYSE expected to play “a
leadership role” in M&A activity in the industry.

The comments come as consolidation in Europe heats up. The
London Stock Exchange has been the subject of takeover talk for
some time and recently asked shareholders to reject a $2.7
billion bid by Australia’s Macquarie Bank.

On Thursday, Nasdaq Stock Market Chief Executive Robert
Greifeld scotched recent speculation by saying he was not in
bid talks with the LSE.